Clip-attaching tool



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,353

. C. JONES CLIP ATTACHING TOOL Filed May 15. 1927 ratev Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNI ED STATES 1,691,353 PATENT OFFICE.

CLAYTON JONES, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

CLIP-ATTACHING TOOL.

Application filed May 13, 1927. Serial No. 191,132.

This invention relates to a new and improved attaching tool, and more particu larly to a tool adapted to bend clips around supporting members for the purpose of se curing signs or the like to such supporting members.

It has been customary in the past to secure wire fencing or the like to steel posts vby means of metal clips which are bent around portions oi the post. These clips have ordinarily been secured in place merely by hammering the ends down against the post. With fence wire it is not necessary to tightly secure the wire to the post and in most cases it is desirable to have this connection comparatively loose so as to permit longitudinal slippage of the wire, and consequently such methods of attaching clips were satisfactory. These steel posts are now widely used for supporting highway signs or the like, and in securing such signs to the post it is highly important that they be very rigidly secured in place. It loosely secured the signs rattle and rapidly deterio- It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool adapted to positively secure an attaching clip in place upon a fenfe post or the like. It is a further object to provide a tool of this character adapted to grip the post and to force the clip against the post. It is also an object to provide a tool of this character in which a portion ofthe post is used as a fulcrum tor exerting force in pressing the clip into engagement with the post.

the description proceeds.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the tool'in position after the completion of a fastening operation, the clip, sign and post being also shown;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1 but partly broken away and showing the tool in the open position before beginning the operation; and V V Fig. 3 is afragmentary View, with parts broken away showing the tool'in the closed position.

The tool comprises the operating handles or levers 11 and 12 which are pivoted together by the pin 13. The bending jaw l l Other and further objects will appear as V is pivoted to the operating lever 11 by means of pin 15 and the bending aw 16 is similarly pivoted to the lever 12 by the pin 17. The gripping jaw 18 is pivoted to the bending jaw 14 at a point intermediate their lengths by means of pin 19 andthe gripping jaw 20 is similarly pivoted by pin 21 to the bending jaw 16. The two gripping jaws 18 and 20 are pivoted together by the pin 23. The gripping jaws 18 and 20 are provided with stop studs 24: and 25 .respectively which are adapted to engage the portions 26 and 27 of the bending jaws 14 and 16, to limit relative movement between the bending and gripping aws. V

In the operation of the device it will be apparent that when the levers 11 and 12 are swung apart, as shown in Fig. 2, about the pivot 13, the pivot pins 15 and 17 are brought toward each other. Due to the connection between the bending jaws l4 and 16 and the gripping jaws 18 and 20 this movement of the pins 15 and 17, causes the operating ends of the bending jaws to separate and the contact between the portions 26 and 27 of the bending jaws and the pins 24-. and 25, causes the rear portions of the gripping jaws to come together and separates the operating portions 28 and 29 of the gripping jaws.

The tool is particularly adapted for use with fence posts of the type shown in section in Figs. 1 and 2. This post comprises the flat face portion 30 having the raised edges 31 against which the sign or similar member 32 is shown as resting. The post is T-shaped in cross-section and has the rearwardly ex tending flange 38, the rear edge of which is bulb-shaped, as shown at 3 1. The attaching clip 35 is U-shaped in form and its legs project through openings in the sign, or'the like. 32. These logs of the clip are adapted to be bent around firmly against the back of the face portion of the fence post, as shown in Fig. 1. The attaching chip is made or" heavy gauge wire and to properly bend it requires the application of considerable force.

The opened tool is brought to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the levers 11 and 12 are then brought together. The portions 28 and 29 of the gripping jaws l8 and 20 clamp about the bulb 34 on the rear edge of the ,fence post, and as the levers 11 and 12 are brought closer together the ends of the bending jaws 14: and 1.6 engage the legs of the clip and force them firmly against the back of the face portion of the fence post. It will be apparent that the bulb formation of thefence post co-operating Witlrthe gripping aws, gives a firm purchase for the operation and serves as, a fulcrum for the operation of the bending levers so that it is unnecessary for the operator to press against the post. All that is necessary is merely to swing the levers 11- and 12 together.

While I have shown one preferred form of device by way of illustration, I contemplate such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 7

I claim:

1. In an attaching-tool, a pair of gripping jaws, a pivoted connection between said jaws, a pair of bending jaws pivotally conjaw being pivoted'to the rear of each gripping jaw, and a pair of operating .levers pivoted to each other and to the rear of the bending jaws.

4. In an attachingtool, a pair of gripping jaws pivoted together at an intermediate point, a pair of bending jaws, one such jaw being pivoted to the rear of each gripping jaw, said bending jaws having operating portions extending in front of the gripping jaws, and a ,pair :ofoperating ievers pivoted to each other and to the rear of the bending jaws.

5. In an attachin connected gripp ng aws, a pair of b g aws, oneiot which pivotadv contact-tee in each gripping aw, and a pair ot pivotally' connected operating levers, one such h b6111 ivotall connected to .each bend-m C 0 n u q o jaw, the gripping aws and bending. aws

tool apair of pivotaily iii beingso related as to have a limited inde;

pendent movement and to be constrained .to move together during a portion of their movement. I a

6. In an attaching tool, a pair of pivotally connected gripping jaws, a pair of bending aws, one of which is pivotally'connected to each gripping jaw, and 'a-pair of pivotally connected operating levers, one suchrlever being pivotally connected to each bend ng ping jaws are. caused to move in the same direction as the bending jaws during por tions oi'the movement of the bending aws.

jaw, the gripping and bending jaws :having interengaging portions whereby the gr p- Signed at Duluth, Minnesota, this othlday.

of May, 1927. cLArroN JoNEs. 

